The Journal of Clara Bacon
The journal of Clara Bacon has the first entry date of February 14, 1914. She carefully notes every cent spent and what item it bought. Her last entry for this journal is dated November 1918. Roscoe Bacon’s wages are entered and often there is only a few cents left over at the end of the month. One month, Clara notes that she is short by $0.60. This is underlined several times. Sometimes the handwriting is different, and I suspect that Roscoe, too, made entries. After reading several of the months tallies, it is evident that they were able to make ends meet, and often spent on fun items such as baby shoes, beer, soda, and gifts. There are a couple of curious entries for moose $3.00 and Red Men $6.00 that I wish I could ask them about.
The journal itself is a lined 5X12 inch marbled paper covered book. It is very worn and fragile. Several pages written in ink have faded. The modern day scanner helps get these details to emerge from the page. From about the middle of the book onward the pages are filled with recipes. Also noted was the cost of canning. The recipes are short, simple, and often attributed to a relative or neighbor. Many of these neighbors I well remember from my growing up in Auburn. They often came for tea and cake at Grandma Bacon’s house. Grandpa Bacon was noted for making candies, ice creams, and cider.
Clara Belle Gay was born in Tisdale, Kansas, August 28, 1888. She died June 6, 1971. Roscoe Concklin Bacon was born in San Francisco, California, December 30, 1888 and died December 7, 1948. They were married March 17, 1913 in Oklahoma. Most of their years were spent living in Auburn, Washington.
I have selected a large portion of the recipes to be reprinted, and a few pages of the monthly expenses.
Judith Roan, granddaughter, December 2005
The journal itself is a lined 5X12 inch marbled paper covered book. It is very worn and fragile. Several pages written in ink have faded. The modern day scanner helps get these details to emerge from the page. From about the middle of the book onward the pages are filled with recipes. Also noted was the cost of canning. The recipes are short, simple, and often attributed to a relative or neighbor. Many of these neighbors I well remember from my growing up in Auburn. They often came for tea and cake at Grandma Bacon’s house. Grandpa Bacon was noted for making candies, ice creams, and cider.
Clara Belle Gay was born in Tisdale, Kansas, August 28, 1888. She died June 6, 1971. Roscoe Concklin Bacon was born in San Francisco, California, December 30, 1888 and died December 7, 1948. They were married March 17, 1913 in Oklahoma. Most of their years were spent living in Auburn, Washington.
I have selected a large portion of the recipes to be reprinted, and a few pages of the monthly expenses.
Judith Roan, granddaughter, December 2005
